Shammi Shinh has broken his 2013 record of World’s Most Expensive Champagne by partnering with the artists that illustrated celebrity favourite Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT. Taking cues from the world’s most expensive address, the new luxury champagne brand ‘Champagne Avenue Foch’ has been adorned with NFTs designed by the artists. The collections include The Bored Ape Yacht Club Mutants and The Sneaky Vampire Syndicate.
A 1 of 1 Magnum bottle has been made available to purchase on OpenSea as an NFT priced at 2500 ETH, making it the new most expensive single bottle of Champagne in the world at $2.5 million USD. Made from 100% Premier Cru grapes, Champagne Avenue Foch is produced at a family-owned estate, Allouchery in Chamery, which sits in the heart of the champagne vineyards.
We caught up with Shammi Shinh to learn more about this rather special project.
How did it all start?
I have been producing champagne for over 15 years. My love for champagne began when my former lead Sahar Elhabashi, head of Spotify then head of Discovery Channel, gifted me a bottle of champagne every Christmas. From this a passion arose and I invested time and money into the production of champagne.
Combining NFTs and champagne is a brilliant idea, how did this collaboration come about?
My first limited edition bottle which set the world record for world’s most expensive champagne in 2013 featured a 19ct diamond. Ten years later observing public interest in art and technology, I went beyond the limits of luxury and set a new concept of incorporating NFT art and technology to luxury. I came across the artists of The Bored Ape Yacht Club and The Sneaky Vampire Syndicate and an idea was born to create a collaboratively designed bottle.
How would you distinguish Champagne Avenue Foch from Taste of Diamonds?
Champagne Avenue Foch’s production is produced in a true raw traditional method. Everything is handmade and hand finished. The new brand has a completely different taste profile and suits the pallets of not just the luxury consumer but also the pallets of the art and technology sector. The Champagne Avenue Foch taste profile has been created to suit all tastes.
What are you expecting The Sneaky Vampire Syndicate collaboration bottle to be valued at?
The limited edition 1 of 1 bottle is priced at $2.5 million USD making this the new world’s most expensive champagne.
Should we expect more bottles produced in the future?
Champagne Avenue Foch will create 1 of 1 bottles. Timed with current and future trends and public interests.
What makes this NFT a worthwhile investment?
The worldwide attention on this bottle and the fact it is only 1 of 1 will make this desirable to the public on a grand scale. The NFT is expected to be traded several times before the physical bottle lands with the final owner.
What advice do you have for those looking to get into investing in NFTs?
1) Attend one of my NFT workshops 2) Do your own research. YouTube has a wealth of useful information. I would not advise to jump in blindly.
After physically landing with a buyer, can that buyer resell the NFT and bottle?
Before someone claims the bottle they can trade it on the OpenSea marketplace. When they want to claim the bottle the NFT will be burnt meaning it is unusable. What they do with the bottle then is in their hands. I assume they would want to keep it and display it somewhere special.
To discover more, visit: champagneavenuefoch.com
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All imagery courtesy of Shammi Shinh.